The Leith Theatre, Ferry Road, Edinburgh

Above - A Google StreetView Image of the entrance to the Leith Theatre, Edinburgh - Click to Interact.

The Leith Theatre first opened in 1932 and was built for Leith's population as a gift from the people of Edinburgh after Leith was incorporated into Edinburgh in 1920. The Theatre is part of a large complex of buildings which includes a Library, a Registrar's Office, and the Thomas Morton Hall. The whole complex was designed by Bradshaw, Gass & Hope.

The Leith Theatre has a circular art deco foyer and box office which leads into its auditorium with raked stalls flooring and a U-shaped balcony, over which there is a barrel vaulted ceiling and glazed roof lights. The Thomas Morton Hall also has a small stage and flat floored auditorium.

In 1941 the building was damaged by bombs and forced to close, and was not reopened until the main auditorium had been rebuilt in 1961. However, the Theatre closed again in 1988 and hasn't been used since. But in 2004 a Community Trust was set up to try and bring the Leith Theatre back into public use after threats of demolition and construction of flats were proposed for the site. The Leith Theatre Trust were eventually successful in their bid to take over the management of the Theatre and in 2016 signed a five year lease with Edinburgh Council, with the prospect of a further 30 year lease at the end of the first five years.

In 2018 it was announced that the Leith Theatre, now restored and re-equipped, would be reopening in November 2018 with its first full scale theatre production since 1988.